Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) has honored its strategic partners who participated in the recently held awareness -inspection campaign on agricultural facilities in various parts of Abu Dhabi emirate, along with several agricultural facilities owners for their excellence in implementing laws & regulations, in a function held at ADFCA headquarters recently.
The campaign which was held during 19-21 April, joining hands with Ministry of Environment & Water and Department of Economic Development targeted agricultural nurseries and facilities doing their business in various parts of the emirate to ensure they were adhering to the laws framed to regulate handling of agricultural materials such as pesticides, fertilizers, soil conditioners, seeds and saplings.
While delivering the welcome speech, H.E Mouza Suhail Al Muhairi, Executive Director of ADFCA Control Sector stressed the key role agricultural sector has to play in attaining economical, social and environmental growth in addition to its substantial contribution in guaranteeing food security.
"The government has put high priority to the agricultural sector with the focus being on attaining sustainability and guaranteeing quality and safety of agricultural produce which needs effective joint efforts between the authorities and private sector stakeholders where agricultural facilities comes as an integral part" She said.
She expressed her gratitude towards Ministry of Environment & Water and Department of Economic Development for the efforts both authorities exerted in making the campaign- considered to be first of its kind- a successful move. She also praised agricultural facilities and the staff for their cooperation during the campaign and termed them as the most important strategic partner in the journey towards achieving Abu Dhabi government's vision- attaining food security and developing a sustainable agricultural sector
From his part, H.E. Eng. Saif Mohammed Al Shara, Assistant Undersecretary for External Audit, Ministry of Environment and Water said:- "The new campaign was launched as part of ministry's varied efforts to strengthen cooperation and strategic partnerships with various government authorities to seek best and effective enforcement of federal legislations in addition to impart awareness among establishment owners and staff about the spirit of laws and regulations. The move comes out of ministry's keenness on supporting sustainability of environment and local production which is considered as a key national responsibility in achieving health & safety of consumers apart from being an integral part of strategic objectives of the ministry and the strategic priorities of the UAE government"
He elaborated further: "The establishment of a new sector- External Audit Sector- comes as reflection of ministry's commitment and keenness towards strengthening environmental sustainability. Being first of its kind among federal government authorities, the sector is designated with developing systems to follow up and evaluate sufficiency of federal legislations on the local level which falls under ministry's jurisdiction. Need not to say, the sector should work with local authorities for escalating the sufficiency level of the implementation of federal laws and to develop audit & control systems over agricultural, environmental, livestock, and aquaculture facilities as well as to disseminate law awareness among businesses and to develop a culture of cooperation among different government authorities"
The program included a presentation introducing ADFCA, its work scope, organizational structure, strategic plans designed in tune with Abu Dhabi Strategic Plan 2016-2020 in addition to several benchmark projects in the field of control, agriculture and livestock.
Another presentation was also screened during the program in which details of the campaign including objectives, target groups, areas and results were featured.
On behalf of Director General of ADFCA, H. E Khalifa Ahmed Al Ali, Executive Director of Strategy & Performance Sector handed over certificates of honor to H.E. Eng. Saif Mohammed Al Shara, Assistant Undersecretary for External Audit, Ministry of Environment and Water, Mohammed Ali Al Marar, Director of Business Centers & Branches, Department Of Economic Development- Abu Dhabi, Campaign Team formed including officials from MOEW, DED and ADFCA as members in addition to representatives of agricultural facilities that excelled in the implementation of laws and regulations, members of the Supervising Committee for Training Food-handlers and the Communication & Community Service Division of ADFCA for its efforts to give best coverage for the campaign.
It is noteworthy that ADFCA launched the campaign as part of efforts to achieve one of its strategic objectives which focuses on guaranteeing economically-viable agricultural activities with reasonable income for farmers encouraging them to sustain in their fields, and on ensuring availability of safe and quality agricultural products which could grabs best returns in the market.
